Myanmar: A Nation in Crisis Essay -- Essays Papers

Myanmar A Nation in CrisisThe nation of Myanmar, also known as Burma, is presently under the discover of a ruthless totalitarian regime, fineable of numerous human rights violations and target of intense international criticism. Located in Southeast Asia, on the western border of Thailand and Laos, it has been under troops rule since World War II. Burma is mired in socioeconomic crisis stemming from the rule of the military junta, and the citizens are suffering. The environment of Burma is being destroyed, the people are treated inhumanely, and the nation is notorious for its contribution to global narcotics. The paragraphs below detail the current situations face the country, why they came about, and the parties that are to blame for sending the country on a dangerous downward spiral. First, however, it is important to understand Burmas political history. A History of BurmaThe ancestors of the people of Myanmar migrated down along the Irrawaddy River from Tibet and China, and they brought with them cultural traditions stemming from India. The Mon, at or so 3000 B.C., were the first people to come. They established centers of settlement in central Myanmar, in the Irrawaddy delta, and farther down the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal. They developed nation and irrigation systems, and they kept ties with India as well as other Mon settlements. The Burmese entered the Irrawaddy River vale in the mid-9th century, eventually absorbing the nearby Pyu and Mon communities. The Shan, Kachin, and Karen arrived later and are currently the major ethnic minority groups in the country. In 1044, King Anawrahta get together the nation in the city of Pagan where he built Buddhist temples and pagodas. In the following years Burma expe... ...ive. 15 Nov. 2004 .Thein, Myat. Economic Development of Myanmar. capital of Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2004. U.S. department of State. International Narcotics Control strategy Report, 1998. Washington, DC U .S. Department of State, 1999. ---. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 2000. Washington, DC U.S. Department of State, 2001. Waldman, Peter. Pipeline Project in Burma Puts Cheney in the Spotlight. The Wall Street Journal. 27 Oct. 2000 http//www.burmaforumla.org/news/cheney.htm.Wallensteen, Peter. Routes to Democracy in Burma/Myanmar. Uppsala, Sweden Dept. of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, 2004.